Eating on the run - Nutrition - Brief Article

Soldiers Magazine, June, 2003

KEEPING their weight down can be a challenge for soldiers who spend lots of time on the road or in the field.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle on the road:

* Don't skip breakfast. Eat high-fiber cereals and breads, low-fat dairy products and fruit.

* Carry meal-replacement bars or fruit. Some food manufacturers offer such healthy, portable snacks as reduced-fat crackers, fig bars, rice cakes, low-fat popcorn and bran muffins.

* Many restaurants have added health-conscious items to their menus. Opt for lean, baked meats instead of fried, high-fat varieties. Choose a baked chicken sandwich and salad instead of a cheeseburger and fries, for example.

* If your only resort is the vending machine, go for pretzels instead of chips.

* Eat the main meal before the snacks in MREs.

* Drink lots of water.

* Avoid weight-loss products that contain ephedrine, an herb claimed to increase metabolism and stimulate weight loss. This supplement has been widely reported to cause serious illness and even death, and is under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration.